Purpose

The CMA is committed to working with key stakeholders to ensure effective competition and consumer protection drive innovation, investment and growth, delivering long term benefits across the UK economy. The purpose of the CMA Growth and Investment Council (the ‘Council’) is to bring together key senior stakeholders from business and investor groups on a regular basis to discuss, agree and track concrete actions, outcomes and recommendations to support this.

Status

The Council will have a consultative status, providing expert knowledge and stakeholder perspectives and offering insights and recommendations. It will not have any decision-making or implementation authority and will not bind or determine the actions or decisions of the CMA. It will not act as a substitute for – or oversight of - regular stakeholder engagement at the working expert level nor will it duplicate such engagement.

Role

The Council will:

• provide expert knowledge and stakeholder perspectives on how effective competition and the operation of the competition and consumer protection regime can support businesses and investors in the UK as they seek to grow, driving innovation and investment, to achieve lasting benefits across the whole of the UK economy
• help identify where competition in the UK can be unlocked to drive innovation, investment and growth delivering lasting benefits across the UK economy, whether by identifying potential areas for action by the CMA or recommendations for action by other bodies or institutions
• help identify opportunities for growth in particular sectors of the UK economy, whilst maintaining effective competition and consumer protection
• consider how the CMA can support aspects of the UK government’s developing industrial strategy
• help identify for the UK government where and how competition and consumer protection policy can be strengthened to enable greater innovation, investment and growth in a way that delivers higher prosperity across the economy
• offer insights and feedback in relation to the CMA’s proposed programme of activity as set out in its draft Annual Plan and in relation to the impact of its work as reflected in the CMA Annual Report
• offer insights and recommendations to support the CMA’s commitment to a best-in-class experience for stakeholders engaged in our processes or casework
• support and facilitate collaborative working and open dialogue between the business and investment communities and the CMA

Membership

The Council shall comprise senior representatives from the following organisations:

• British Chamber of Commerce
• British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
• British Retail Consortium
• Competition and Markets Authority
• Confederation of Business Industry
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Founders Forum Group
• London Stock Exchange
• ScaleUp Institute
• Startup Coalition
• techUK
• UK Finance

Governance

Membership

The Chair of the Council shall be the CMA Chief Executive or their nominated designate.

Membership is on behalf of the organisation (rather than on an individual or personal basis).

Meetings

Meetings will be held on a quarterly basis in the first year of the Council’s operation. Thereafter, the frequency of meetings shall be agreed by all members of the Council.

Attendance should generally be at CEO and/or Chair level, with delegation of attendance to alternative senior executives in agreement with the CMA.

Up to 2 representatives of any member organisation may attend.

Meetings will be in person at the CMA’s London office with virtual attendance also possible.

The CMA will provide an agenda 2 weeks and any supporting papers 1 week in advance of the meeting.

The CMA will prepare minutes of the meetings recording the key discussion points and recommendations on a non-attributed basis (unless otherwise agreed) and these minutes may be shared by the CMA with government or others with prior notice to all members of the Council.

CMA staff will aim to share minutes of the meetings with the Council members within 2 weeks after each meeting.

Secretariat

The CMA will provide secretariat support to the Council.

Conflicts of Interest

The Council members will:

• have regard to the CMA’s policy on conflicts of interest (see Appendix F: Conflicts of interest policy - GOV.UK)
• be asked by the Chair at each meeting to confirm any interests which may conflict with their roles as Council members, including in relation to cases before the CMA
• not participate in any activity of the Council in relation to which they believe they have a conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest without the prior consent of the CMA
• not comment on specific CMA cases in the course of the meeting